Gayatri Mantra

. Gayatri Devi: Gangesindia.com Gayatri Devi: Credit: GangesIndia.com

Veeraswamy Krishnaraj Feedback Email: myumbra-gayatri@yahoo.com

Gayatri Mantra

A non-denominational Mantra for all times, regions, religions, beliefs, races, creeds, colors, nationalities.... Please click on the following link, if you want to listen to the divine voice of Anuradha Paudwal sing a 22-minute rendition of Gayatri. Copy and paste if necessary. www.dishant.com/album/Anuradha_Paudwal_-_Gayatri_Mantra.html

If you are a Hindu, that Light is the sun, Brahman, Gayatri Devi; a Jew, Adonai; Christian, the Lord; Muslim, Allah. For the Hindu, the image is Gayatri Devi; for the Jew, Christian and Muslim it is the Light of lights. There is no religious accretion in Gayatri Mantra. According to Jewish tradition sun was formed on the 4th day of creation on March 26, 3760 BCE. NYTimes: "According to the celestial calculations of a Talmudic sage named Shmuel, at the outset of spring every 28 years, the sun moves into the same place in the sky at the same time and on the same day of the week as it did when God made it. This charged moment provides the occasion for reciting a one-line blessing of God, who makes the work of creation. NYTimes. That day is April 8, 2009; the previous ones were April 28, 1953, April 28, 1981. The next one will occur on April 8, 2037. Jewish Year 5769: sunset September 29, 2008 - nightfall October 1, 2008 Birkat Hachama (" , Blessing of the Sun") refers to a Jewish blessing that is recited on the Sun once every twenty-eight years, when the vernal equinox as calculated by tradition falls on a Tuesday at sundown. Wikipedia. It appears that Jews pay homage to the sun once every 28 years, while Hindus pay homage everyday. Here is the Gayatri Mantra of the Hindus paying homage to the sun. O bhr-bhuva-sva tatsavitur vareya bhargo devasya dhmahi dhiyo yona pracodayt Om , earth, atmosphere, and heaven, we meditate on the adorable glory of the radiant sun; may he inspire our intelligencetranslation by Dr. Radhakrishnan.

Gyatr = Gya + Tr. Gya is derived from Ga (singing, page 352 Monier Williams Sanskrit Dictionary); Tr = Female defender. Tra = Tr = male defender, page 457. Gya = song; Gyak = singer; Gyan = singing Gyatr / Gayatri = Song that protects; Gayatri Devi is the protector. Gayatri = A Vedic Meter, three feet and 24 syllables long; Gayatri Devi Line one: Tat Savitur Vareiya Tat Sa vi tur Va re i ya = 8 syllables Second line: Bhargo Devasya Dhmahi Bhar go De va sya Dh ma hi = 8 syllables Third line: Dhiyo yona pracodayt Dhi yo yo na pra co da yt = 8 syllables Tirumular of Tirumantiram says the following in Verse 994 about 24-syllable Gayatri Mantra. 994. .

The six letters are the six Samayas (faiths). Six multiplied by four is 24, which are the syllables contained in Gayatri Mantra. The leading head of the Mantra is Om. They who know the true meaning of Pranava will for ever escape the round of birth.

Gayatri Mantra sung by Anuradha Paudwal with golden and silken voice. Here is the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5t8kzbJVf4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg4o3PAYjX8

Bhagavan Krishna says in Bhagavd Gita (10.35) Of the hymns in Sama Veda (I am) Brhatsama; of meters, I am Gayatri; of months (I am) Margasirasa (Dec-Jan); of all seasons, I am flower-bearer (spring).

Gayatri Devi is endowed with five heads, ten eyes, and ten hands and sits on a red lotus. Because of Her many auspicious qualities and powers, She is One beyond compare and yet She is Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, Vedas and Goddess; thus She has five heads, ten eyes and ten hands, which hold weapons and accouterments of the said deities. The three eyes in each head are the sun, the moon, and the third eye. The allknowing third eye when turned inside is for contemplation and meditation. When opened to outside, it brings destruction of evil. The Roman god of rising and setting sun Janus had only two faces to see forwards and backwards but Gayatri had five heads and five faces looking in all directions. Besides, imagine the computing power of five parallel processors!

There are five Devatas for worship: Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, Sakti, and Surya. (Ganesa replaced Brahma.) Brahma worship was abandoned by Narada's and Siva's curse; Ganesa, son of Siva and Avatara of Vishnu has taken his place of honor and worship. Gayatri Mantra has five attributes appended to Deva: Pervader of the universe (Vibhu), creator, Deva of worship, Deva at play, Inspirer of intelligence. Vaidika Gayatri: O bhr-bhuva-sva tatsavitur vareya bhargo devasya dhmahi dhiyo yona pracodayt Om , earth, atmosphere, and heaven, we meditate on the adorable glory of the radiant sun; may he inspire our intelligencetranslation by Dr. Radhakrishnan. Sakti forms the hypostasis for these five attributes. Gayatri depicts Sakti of Will, Sakti of Action, and Sakti of Knowledge in its full measure. Three Purusas and three of their aspects, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesvara, Brahmani, Vaishnavi, and Rudrani form the six tattvas in Gayatri Mantra. (insert: Brahma and Brahmani; exoticindia.com)

It is difficult to hold in mind all six tattvas at the same time. Devi forms the representative core of all six tattvas and worshipping her is equal to worshipping all six tattvas. In the same vein, it is difficult to worship at the same time a pantheon of five gods: Siva, Sakti, Surya, Vishnu, and Ganesa. One Devata becomes the centerpiece, Ishtadevata, with a circle of other four devatas. The initiation may be into all five Devatas or one Ishtadevata. Mahanirvana Tantra states that in Kali yuga, the wise should worship Devas according to Agamic rules. The Sadaka (Brahmana, Ksatriya, and Vaishya) is initiated by the Guru in Vaidik Gayatri Mantra and later in Tantric Mantra of Ishtadevata. A Sudra is initiated in Tantric Mantra alone. Initiation in Vaidik Gayatri is done according to Tantric tradition. Guru is essential in initiation. He teaches the initiate Mantra, Yantra, Mudra, and Sadhana; external and internal purification, worship of Devatas, panchattatvas. The very fact that the initiate has come to this stage of spiritual advancement means that he has performed a goodly amount of Punyam (meritorious acts) in previous births. This qualifies him to receive Mantra (Srividya Mantra in case of Tripurasundari, TPS) instructions in a proper ritual. The Guru presents the initiate the specific Yantra of the goddess (Sri Chakra Yantra in case of TPS). Mantra is the sound-body of a god or goddess; Yantra depicts the sound-body in a diagram; just imagine Mantra is the computer code while Yantra is the computer electronic circuit board.

Though She is Parabrahman (Supreme Brahman, Brahman beyond attributes or mutation...; Immutable Ultimate Reality), she is considered the consort of Brahma. The five heads are the four Vedas and the Godhead. The weapons are for protection. Protection for and from whom? She is Almighty Goddess and does not need protection. The weapons are visible symbols to the devotees who are really in need of protection. It is a show of immense strength and power. Seeing (the weapons on the Goddess) is believing that she provides divine protection. We are earthbound creatures, hard-wired in the principle of WYSIWYG. From time immemorial, countries have been parading their weapons and soldiers. Once the devotee sees the weapons on Gayatri, he is reassured of protection from Her. The red lotus is a symbol of wealth. The Darshan (seeing, looking, observing the divine) of five faces amounts to expunging the five sins and acquiring five divine graces. The ten eyes are looking in the eight directions plus the sky and the earth protecting the good and killing the bad. I bet the world nations need Gayatri Devi all the time to do in the terrorists. What Argus sees with 100 eyes, Gayatri can do the same with ten eyes; such is her power and perception. We use idioms such as double-tongue, triple-tongue, forked tongue, foreign tongue, slip of the tongue, tongue in cheek, speaking in tongues, hold one's tongue; literal meaning of these words in a second language is the stuff of a stand-up comic. In like manner all these extra body parts convey a special meaning. Demon Ravana had ten heads; imagine inviting him for a dinner and having a chat. The ten talking heads will drive every guest bonkers. It is like a gaggle of senior correspondents, invited guests, opinion peddlers and professional verbal pugilists on a political TV forum engage in vociferous intrusive verbal slugging. Imagine the amount of sumptuous food he will be eating, when children are starving in countries like kotakongaponga. Imagine his twenty chaotic flailing hands make maddening excursions between plates and his ten mouths. What about the clanging flatware, silverware and hollowware? Add all these to his metronomic eructations (from each head), growling borborygmi, emissive flatulence from his Jovian equatorial bulge, and a drumbeat; there you have an eruptive orchestra. That is a one man show, the best you will ever see and hear. His ten heads represent ten bad qualities which stream forth from the head(s), the seat of thought. Sri Swami

Sivananda lists the ten bad qualities: passion, pride, anger, greed, infatuation, lust, hatred, jealousy, selfishness and crookedness. Ram Bhagavan cuts off all his ten heads in one sweep, telling us that we should rise above these ten bad qualities. Imagine a farmhand chopping off ten cabbage heads on the farm land in one swoop. That takes a ton of dexterity. They also represent ten ego-centric senses: five motor and five sensory organs. Motor organs are larynx, hands, feet, anus and genitals and their functions are speech, grasp, locomotion, evacuation and reproduction; organs of perception are eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin. These organs must be brought under control. The senses have their headquarters in the head. Thus decapitation is euphemism for severing the ugly heads of senses. You may ask how you can bring the skin under control. Skin's function is touch, which encompasses appropriate touch, inappropriate touch, foreplay, sexual intercourse.... Vaishnavites are of the opinion that the Indriyas (senses) are created for the express purpose of glorifying Vishnu: chanting His names, hearing His names, tasting the sweetness of His names .... All other uses are of secondary importance.

Here are the five sins: Pancha-ma-Patakam (five heinous sins of killing, lying, stealing, drinking and abusing one's Guru). The votary should engage in Pancha Suddhi (five-part purification) in worship: Bhuta suddhi, Anma suddhi, Dravya suddhi, Mantra suddhi, and Linga suddhi in Saivism. Tantrics also have five-part purification: Atma suddhi, Stana Suddhi, Mantra suddhi, Dravya Suddhi, and Deva Suddhi.

Bhuta Suddhi: Daily ceremonial by which the soul is purified from daily sins, part of Anma-Suddhi. Anma Suddhi: Soul's realizing Divine grace as its mainstay. Dravya Suddhi: Purification of defiled objects. Mantra Suddhi: Ceremonial purification by sprinkling water consecrated by mantra. Linga Suddhi: Realizing the immanence of God in the non-sentient universe, as well as in the sentient. The following is special to Tantrics, but applicable to all sects. Stana Suddhi: Purification of the place of worship (Tantra). Deva Suddhi: Purification of a deity which consists in placing its image on a seat, bathing it, adorning it with garments, ornaments, etc., and offering incense, light. The five graces of God or Gayatri are also His or Her names: SadyojAta, Vamadeva, Tat Purusha, Isana, and Aghora. SadyojAta: Sadyo + jAta = fresh + brought into existence, born = Creator. VAmadeva: VAma + Deva = pleasant, agreeable, fair + god = preserver. Tatpurusha: Tat + Purusha = That + man = Original or Supreme Spirit. IsAna: The grace-giving form of Siva, Sadasiva. He is invisible to the human eye Aghora: Not terrific. Destructive aspect of Siva as prelude to regeneration. It is fire that is followed by new growth. Gayatri, the sacred mantra of 24 syllables and three feet (eight syllables in each foot), is recited by Brahmanas in their daily worship. All castes, classes, races, and followers of

all religions can chant this Mantra. It has an universal appeal. When Gayatri has not been sung for three generations in a Brahmana family, the family loses its privilege and caste status and ceases to be Brahmanas. They still retain the Brahmin status; it is one or several notches below the real entity. Vaidika (Sanctioned by Vedas) Gayatri is a seed mantra and the Vedas are ensconced in it. Vaidika Gayatri: Om bhur-bhuvahsvah tatsavitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhmahi dhiyo yonah prachodayt Om , earth, atmosphere, and heaven, we meditate on the adorable glory of the radiant sun; may he inspire our intelligencetranslation by Dr. Radhakrishnan. Sandya (junctional [transitional time zones] prayerssunrise, noon and sunset) is performed three times a day. Now let us read the translation of Gayatri Mantra by Woodroffe: "Om, Earth, Middle region, Heaven. let us contemplate upon the adorable spirit who is in the form of the sun (Aditya Devata). May he direct our minds, towards attainment of the four-fold aims (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksa = righteous duty, wealth, desire and conjugal love, liberation) of all sentient beings.

Woodroffe observes and amplifies, "The Self of all which exists in the three regions appears in form of Sun-god with His body of fire. The Brahman is the cause of all, and as the visible devata is the eye of the World and the Maker of the day who vivifies, ripens and reveals all beings and things. The Sun-god is to the sun what spirit (Atman) is to the body. He is the Supreme in the form of the great Luminary. His body is the Light of the World, and he Himself is the Light of the lives of all beings. He is everywhere. He is in the outer ether as the sun, and in the inner ethereal region of the heart. He is the wondrous Light which is the smokeless Fire. He it is who is in constant play with creation, maintenance and destruction; and by His radiance pleases both eye

and mind. Let us adore Him that we may escape the misery of birth and death. May He ever direct our minds (Buddhivrtti) upon the path of the world (Trivarga) and liberation (Moksa)." GAyatri Mantra is so important that the Sun God himself came down as the preceptor and priest for Upanayana Initiation of Lord Vamana (Dwarf incarnation of Vishnu) and UpanyAsa of the Gayatri Mantra to child Vamana. (Upanayana = Sacred thread ceremony of a Brahmana boy, a Ksatriya or a Vaisya at which the boy attains twiceborn status, the symbol being a loop of thread worn over the right shoulder and lower loop hanging under the left armpit.) When God decided to become many (from Niskala to Sakala mode) a multitude of triplets appeared: three varnas (AUM); three vyahrtis (expansions, additions, utterance); three footed Gayatri, three Vedas, three Devas, and three fires. The Mantra is tatsavitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhmahi dhiyo yonah prachodayt; it is preceded by Pranava (Om) and maha-vyahrtis (bhur-bhuvah-svaha, added by Yajur Veda). Vyahrti: Utterance, speech, declaration, statement. The mystical utterance of the names of the seven worlds (viz. Bhr, bhuvar [or bhuvah], svar, mahar, janar, tapar,

satya , the first three of which, called the great Vyhrtis, are pronounced after Om byevery Brahmana in commencing his daily prayers and are personified as the daughters of Savitri and Prisni). Monier williams Sanskrit Dictionary page 1039 The three worlds, Bhr, bhuvar [or bhuvah], svar are the habitats of men and gods. It is confluence of body, mind and soul. In a subjective sense, life on earth is waking; life in the atmospheric domain, dream sleep; life in heaven, deep sleep. A note: Man in deep sleep is the Purest Being known to man; he gives up all good, bad, and indifferent deeds of his awake life; thus, a man in deep sleep is a spiritual being or the purest being; he is in touch with his God in deep sleep; thus deep sleep is heaven. Have you ever heard of a thief stealing or planning to steal in deep sleep? Here is another example from Hindu sacred texts. The man holding on an umbrella when awake is the man with worldly attachments; the man (dozing off in a moving train. I have seen many

a British on the train holding the umbrellas) going to sleep lets go of his umbrella and gets in touch with his god in deep sleep. When he comes out of deep sleep, he is disconnected from his God and temporary bliss and looks for his loose umbrella (lying on the floor of the moving train). When we are in deep sleep, we are awake to the world of Spirit. The progression is from spiritually marginal condition of awake life (Bhr, Earthly life) full of desires, to a dream world of aspirations and expectations of Bhuvar, and to the world of deep sleep of Svar (heaven), where flesh dies along with desires, and spirit rises. When we are in deep sleep we are all virtuous (Sattva); when we come back to awake life, we resume our old personality which is a combination of Sattva (virtue and goodness; the quality of truth, goodness, reality, purity), Rajas (motion, passion, desire), and Tamas (darkness, ignorance, heaviness, illusion, anger, pride, sorrow, dullness, solidity [dense]). All of us and matter possess these three qualities; they are in various combinations, each in different proportions, all amounting to 100%. Very few are 100% Sattvic: Maharishis, Ramana Maharishi, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Buddha, Jesus Christ. Very few are 100% Tamasic (read evil): Hitler. There is nothing in this universe which is free of these three qualities except Parabrahman. Satya SAi Baba says the following (paraphrase): Take the sun in its orb; our daily lives are tuned to the apparent movement of the sun. Early morning hours (4 AM to 8AM) is a time of Sattva, prayers and meditation; risen sun to afternoon hours (8 AM to 4 PM) coincides with Rajas and frenetic activity of the human race and most other creatures; Sattvic period comes again between 4PM to 8PM for prayer and meditation; setting sun and the dark of night (8 PM to 4 AM) mark the Tamasic dark period. All substances have these three qualities. Take water; water at room temperature is of Sattva guna, fit for drinking; boiling water and steam are of Rajasic nature; ice is of Tamasic nature. (Maharishi Bharadvaja was a Vedic Scholar and yet at age 96 he was not satisfied with the extent of his knowledge of the Vedas; he thought his knowledge was incomplete. He prayed to Indra, sought and received an additional lifetime of 100 years

for the learning of Vedas and thus he received three 100-year lifetimes for intense study of Vedas. Before the last term was up for renewal, Indra appeared before Bharadvaja and asked him, "What are you going to do with the fourth 100-year lifetime?" Bharadvaja answered, "O Indra, What are you saying? I have nothing else to do except to remain a Brahmacharin and learn Vedas." Indra at once created three mountainworlds (Yes, Indra can do that.): Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svahah (world, atmosphere, and heaven). He addressed the Sage and said, "Look at these three worlds; these are the Vedas." Bharadvaja's joy knew no bounds and asked Indra, "Did I learn all these three Vedas in my three 100-year lifetimes?" Indra responded by scooping up one fistful of mud from each mountain and retorted, "O Bharadvaja, What you say is nowhere near the truth. The Vedas that you have learnt in three hundred years are three fistfuls. How many 100 years do you need to scour the three mountains clean?" Bharadvaja was pretty shaken up at the immensity of the proposal and task. Facts and Factoids: The British Library boasts: We hold 14 million books, 920,000 journal and newspaper titles, 58 million patents, 3 million sound recordings, and so much more. What is 'so much more', I don't know. Just imagine that one person (Bharadvaja) is set out to learn from this mountain of books, which is only a fistful according to Indra. Now you know why Baradvaja's ego was deflated, when the British Library is reduced to a fistful of knowledge by Indra. This reminds us of the Avvaiyar's pithy saying, "What you have learnt is of the size of fistful of mud and what you haven't learnt is of the size of the world. = ." " Thus Vedas are endless apart from its eternal existence, absent claim of authorship, and its learning by word of mouth from generation to generation.)

The view from the West

The West regards Indra as an Aryan God, whose life, times, prestige, power, glory, valor and sovereignty over the universe came to an abrupt end when Vishnu and Siva came into their own. The abrupt end is akin to when the politicians are voted out of office. It further states the importance of the other elemental gods of Indo-Aryans waned as Siva and Vishnu came to the forefront and yet the elemental gods remained as demigods and demiurges. What they saw in nature which they could not control, the Indo-Aryans called god: Sun, moon, earth, water, fire, air, ether, sky...At first, for the Indo-Aryans seeing was believing, unlike the Dravidians who in addition made an internal journey to understand and interpret god. That is how the whole repertoire of deep-thought philosophy of Dravidians came into existence. Saiva Siddhanta is one of the best examples of such philosophical speculation of the nature of god. The philosophical system of Saiva Sidhdhantha, a system, which may be ranked among the most perfect and cleverest systems of human thought--Prof. Dr. Kamil Vaclav Zvelebil, September 17, 1927 - January 17, 2009 Primer in Saiva Siddhanta The Indo-Aryans wandered around with makeshift shelters and hastily built fire pits for Yagna (fire sacrifice). Joseph Campbell states they were the genetic and soul brothers of the ancient Greeks, from whom they broke away and wandered into India (from Central Asia). Modern Indologists dispute outside-of-India origin of Indo-Aryans. They were constantly exposed to wind, air, fire, water, space, sky, sun, moon, stars, which became their gods. Indra wields Vajra (the thunderbolt) and sends drenching rain which defeats the drought demon, Vrtra. If you see parched fields with deep fissures, it is the work of Vrta, who is waiting to be appeased by the farmers. Indra thrives on Soma; the Indo-Aryans are the purveyors and suppliers of Soma; it is a perfect fit in the domain of supply and demand; it is like commerce. When he imbibes Soma, he exhibits more strength, vigor and power, which he uses to reward the suppliers of Soma and thus provides for the welfare of mankind by sending rain and cattle. Krishna keeps the IndoAryan god Indra in line all the time so that he does not puff up with pride. In one instance, to defy Krishna's supremacy as the Paramatman, Indra sends days and days

of endless rain. The cowherds, their spouses, children, and animals (cows) face an imminent threat of being washed away in floods. (It was worse than Katrina 2005.) Krishna comes to the rescue and holds up a mountain, so that all the living creatures can take shelter under its cover. They live by grace of Krishna. Indra coming to know of it begs for forgiveness. Krishna authorized celebration of this day every year in mid January in honor of Indra which coincides with the northern passage of the sun. (It is like President Obama honoring and giving the jobs of VC and SOS to Biden and Clinton after defeating them.) It is a four-day harvest festival in honor of Indra, sun god, farm animals and farm workers and is known as Pongal () in Tamil Nadu, Makara Sankranti in North India, Onam, Kanumu, Lohri, Bihu, Bhogi, and Hadaga in various parts of India. (Jan 2009) http://www.pongalfestival.org/the-harvest-festival.html Soma is a drink of the ancient Brahmanas and gods. The Brahmanas curried favor with Indra by providing Soma to gods. It is better than Scotch Whiskey. When you drink it, you get a double whammy: Inebriation and hallucination. You can't buy Soma anymore. You may get it when you go to Indra Loka (the world of Indra). Indra has a huge cellar fully stocked with Soma. Don't expect him to part with his Vintage Soma. No one knows its ingredients and the art of distilling it. Indra would not reveal its ingredients as the Coke people would not tell what Coke is made of. I know it has sugar in it, but it is not all sugar; there is something more. It is believed by earthlings Soma was made from mushrooms. The West says that this is an instance where Vishnu (Krishna) eclipses Indra totally and irrevocably. Krishna is an Indo-Aryan, though dark-blue in complexion. Look, He is the real Blue Blood. His father was an Indo-Aryan king and his mother was an Indo-Aryan princess. It looks like Aryans are polychromatic. Krishna uproots (steals) the celestial tree (Parijata tree--Erythrina Indica) from the celestial garden of Indra and mounts it on Garuda for transportation to Dwaraka at the request of his consort, Satyabhama. The gardeners of Indra protest and tell Indra and his wife Saci (Indrani, Aindri). Parijata is no

ordinary tree. Won't you get angry, if someone steals luscious mango tree from your garden or grove? It came from Milk ocean. Saci loved its fragrant flowers and luscious fruits. She wore the flowers on her tresses. She moved like a goddess (She really is) among the trees and bushes smelling the roses. When the gardeners see her coming, they all fall prostrate on the grounds and stay there until she leaves the garden. She is a good goddess and exchanges pleasantries with the gardeners. Saci was heart-broken; Indra could not bear to see an unhappy distraught wife. He fought with Krishna and lost his weapons, elephant.... When he was standing alone on the battlefield without weapons, Krishna let him live. Such Grace and Magnanimity can come only from Krishna Bhagavan, the divine Thief, the Lord of the Universe.... To make things short, Indra and Saci agreed to let Krishna take the tree (steal the tree under their nose) and return it after Krishna's demise. (This is one of the most important tenets of SriVaishnavism: Yes, everything is His; No, you don't own it; you have a temporary custody of it; don't become attached to it; what He giveth, He taketh away.) Partly it sounds like a Christian thought. As you enter the temple of Krishna in Guruvayoor, you may say "Om Namo Narayana" besides Govinda and other Mantras. NAMO = NA + MAHAH = No + Yes (power, perfection). The votary says to Narayana, "No, Nothing is mine; Yes, they (all power, perfection, the universe, the souls) belong to You. The door frame of the temple denotes this principle.

Abbe Dubois derides Gayatri Mantra, so highly regarded by Hindus. He observes (exudes malevolent wry remark) that Gayatri Mantram removes the sins and that gods tremble at it. The Brahmin must make sure that he always repeats it in a low voice, that he is not overheard by a Sudra, or even by his own wife, particularly at the time when she is in a state of uncleanness (monthly periods). The Mantram should not be imparted to an unbeliever (like Abbe Dubois). Page 138-140: Hindu Manners, Customs and

CeremoniesDonald A Mackenzie says that Brahma took Gayatri, the milkmaid, as a second wife because his chief wife, Sarasvati, despite her wisdom arrived late for a certain important ceremony, at which the spouse of the god was required. Sarasvati cursed Brahma so that he could only be worshipped once a year. page 44, 149 Myths & Legends of India.

Population genetics of Indians

From The Times September 24, 2009 Researchers analysed more than 500,000 genetic markers from 132 people from 25 different groups. The research established that modern Indians of all castes are descended from two ancestral groups. Indians can trace between 39 per cent and 71 per cent of their ancestry to a population known as the Ancestral Northern Indians (ANI), who are quite closely related to Europeans and Asians. Those with a higher ancestral contribution from the ANI group are more likely to belong to higher castes, and to speak Indo-European languages such as Hindi and Bengali. The other ancient population are the Ancestral Southern Indians (ASI), who are not genetically close to any group outside the sub-continent. People with a higher ASI ancestry are more likely to belong to lower castes, and to speak non Indo-European languages such as Tamil. The research, by scientists from CCMB in India and Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, has also established that Indians are much more genetically diverse than Europeans. This result indicates that many modern Indian groups are descended from a small number of founding individuals, whose descendants interbred among themselves to create genetically isolated populations.

Lalji Singh, director of CCMB, said: India is genetically not a single large population, but instead is best described as many smaller isolated populations. This insight has important medical implications for people of Indian origin, because groups that are descended from small founding populations often have a high incidence of inherited diseases. Ashkenazi Jews, for example, have a high risk of Tay-Sachs disease. This may explain why several genetic conditions are more common in India than elsewhere: a mutation in a gene called MYBPC3, which raises the risk of heart failure sevenfold, is found in 4 per cent of Indians but is exceptionally rare elsewhere. The only ethnic group who do not have this shared ancestry is the indigenous population of the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean, who appear to be of exclusively ASI descent. Nick Patterson, of the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, said: The Andamanese are unique. Understanding their origins provides a window on to the history of the Ancestral South Indians, and the period tens of thousands of years ago when they diverged from other Eurasians. Mr Singh added: Our project to sample the disappearing tribes of the Andaman Islands has been more successful than we could have hoped, as the Andamanese are the only surviving remnant of the ancient colonisers of South Asia. Aravinda Chakravarti, of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, wrote in a commentary for Nature: Greater ANI ancestry is significantly associated with Indo-European speakers and with traditionally higher caste membership. This provides a model of how diversity within India came about. As such, its details are

imperfect and will surely be contested, revised and improved. Caste and custom may be strong barriers between groups, perhaps even today. But the common shared ancestry and rampant ANI/ASI mixture may be the strong, invisible thread that binds all Indians. India's caste system 'is thousands of years old', DNA shows India's caste system stretches back thousands of years and was not largely a creation of colonial rule, as some historians claim, a genetic study has shown.

Seven Vyahrtis represent seven levels of consciousness, starting from the consciousness of Muladhara Chakra and ending in the realm of Superconsciousness of Sahasrara Chakra. They also stand for seven worlds: Bhur, the physical plane; Bhuvah, the atmosphere, sky or astral plane; Svah, heaven, the mental or astral plane; Mahar, the world of Saints; Janah, birth-world, a world of Siddhas and Kumaras beyond the Solar system and the world of birth of animals destroyed in cosmic fire; Tapar of seven sages (Saptarishis); Satya of Infinite Truth. Vaikuntha is the 8th plane, the abode of Lord Narayana, Krishna's devotees, and Kamala, consort of Narayana; Goloka is the 9th plane and the highest of all, the abode of Krishna, Radha, and Sridama (Krishna's friend). Savitur in Gayatri Mantra refers to the sun, worthy of worship. Without sun no life as we know can exist; thus, sun is life and soul of this universe. All gods say that their eyes are the sun and the moon; thus worshipping the sun is worshipping God. During Sri Chakra worship, the fire, the moon and the sun are worshipped. Kalas (12) of sun worthy of worship are 1) Tapin, 2) Tpin, 3) Dhmr, 4) Marci, 5) Jvlin, 6) Ruci, 7) Sudhmr, 8) Bhoga-d, 9) viv, 10) Bodhin, 11) Dhrin, 12) Ksam (heat container1, heat emanator2, color of smoke3, Ray producer4, burner5, luster6, smoky red7, grantor of enjoyment8, universal9, giver of knowledge10, illuminator11, patience and

forbearance12. Dharini and Ksama refer to selfless qualities of sun which drinks up the ocean and showers it on earth in the form of rain. Our body has all the elements in the universe and thus is a microcosm of the macrocosm. Paramatman is the source of Light and wisdom in us and imparts light to the sun, moon, stars, our individual soul. He resides in our spiritual heart as Light. We have three gunas (modes, qualities) running our life on earth. Sattva is Light, goodness, virtue; Rajas is motion and passion; Tamas is darkness, dullness and lethargy. Tamasa elements work against us while Sattva is an agonist and Rajas gives the direction to Sattva or Tamas. Sun stands for Light, intellect, memory, goodness, virtue and other auspicious qualities, which Rajasa and Tamasa gunas suppress and repress. In order to eliminate the suppressive elements and free the sun to give full expression in our body, we perform Sandhyavandhanam in the morning and evening. By facing the sun, chanting Gayatri Mantra to the sun, pouring water towards the sky, we destroy the negative elements that block the sun element in our body. Pouring water (Arghyam) from copper, silver or gold vessels is to drive the negative forces, as water is a purifying element. (Next time you see the Catholic or Hindu Rituals (all derived and copied from Tantrics of India), you know the salubrious effects and noble thought and idea behind them.) Bhagavan Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita: 10.21: Of the Adityas, I am Vishnu. Of the lights, I am the radiant sun. Of the Maruts, I am the Marici. Of the stars, I am the moon. Adityas are the 12 sons of Kasyapa and Aditi: Dhata, Mitra, Aryama, Rudra, Varuna, Surya, Bhaga, Vivasvan, Pusa, Savita, Tvasta, and Vishnu. Besides the above, Aditi bore 21 more children, 33 in all. These 33 children (Adityas) of Aditi are the progenitors of 330 million devatas. The 12 Adityas are collectively called Tushitas, Suryas, Dvadasadityas [(dva =2 + dasa = 10) =12] Adityas. Savita is one of the Adityas, thus is Vishnu; Savitur, his consort is his radiant energy or splendor (Bhargo). Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu carries different names and Savitur is her name in relation to Savita. Savitur reveals Savita; the sunlight reveals the

sun. Lord Narasimha has three eyes: Sun the right eye, Moon the left eye and Agni the middle eye. The Sun and Moon came out of the respective eyes, according to Purusa Sukta. The sun should be worshipped everyday. If anyone eats without worshipping the sun, he is equal to the squiggly worm wriggling in the cow dung according to Vedas. The proponents of Surya Namaskaram (Sun worship) say it helps prevent diseases and deficiencies of the body such as heart disease, development of cataract, hearing impairment.... Once I went visiting with an Indian octogenarian who retired from Indian Military Service. I could not hear him or read the books he gifted me without my eye glasses. He read the book without glasses; NO, he was not wearing contact lenses. He heard me perfectly well without any hearing aid, though I could not hear him well without my hearing aid. He had no arthritis; his limbs and joints were supple and he was sitting in Lotus position without any discomfort. He pointed out to me that his health and comfort with his body were all due to Yogas (and sun worship). Poor me, I ambled down the staircase with my hearing aid and glasses in place holding on to the parapet wall by the steps; my joints were creaking and complaining. There are many Sun Temples in India. One of the famous ones is in Orissa. Srya or Savitar is the Sun God; His daughter is Sry, who is abducted by the Asvins as their bride. Sur or Svar is to shine. S is to bring forth as in creation. We won't be here if not for the sun. Savit is vivifier or animator. It is the source of light, wisdom, and dispeller of ignorance and darkness. Saura is the sun cult. The most famous Saura cult Temple is Konarak temple in Orissa. The Sauras wear red sandal paste on the forehead and red flower garlands and chant Gayatri. Rohita, the Red One, is another name for sun; His female counterpart is Rohini, the deity of cattle and the daughter of Surabhi and the mother of Kamadhenu, the cow of plenty. Rohini, the red star in the constellation of Taurus, is one of the 27 consorts of Soma, who stand for the 27 lunar asterisms or Nakshatras. Soma was so enamored with Rohini he neglected the other 26 wives who went home to their father Daksa. Soma changed his mind and asked for the return of his 26 wives, who came on condition that he would treat all of them equally; such was the promise extracted by Daksa. Soon Soma fell from grace and exclusively doted on Rohini; he was struck with phthisis, a wasting disease (most likely tuberculosis). The

Adityas, the sons of Aditi, twelve in number representing 12 Solar months cured him of his disease. Rohita and Rohini are the allegorical king and queen of heaven, earth, space.... Etasa is the dapple horse, which draws the chariot of the sun. Tarksya is a white horse that draws the Sun's chariot across the heaven. The goddess of dawn leads the white horse at dawn. A troop of seven celestials, under the aegis of Vishnu, occupy the sun dispensing cold, heat and rain as appropriate for the season. The twelve Adityas appear as 12 suns at dissolution and thus the sun is said to have 12 souls. Iranian hvare, Hittite urias, Greek helios are the sun. Savita marries Prsni, who begets three girls, Savitri, Vyahriti, and Trayi and four boys, Agnihotra, Pasu, soma, and Caturmasya (Mahayajnas, the three Great sacrifices). Vyhriti = utterance; declaration; mystical utterance of the names of the seven worlds, bhur, bhuvar, svar, mahar, janar, tapar, satya. Maha vyahriti: utterance of the names of the Great three worlds, bhur, bhuvar, and svar. Utterance of Vyahritis prepares the chanter of Mantra to rise from the world of marginal spirit to a world of aspirations and expectations and further on to a world of Grace and spirit. The presiding deity of Gayatri is Supreme Brahman, Devi, Vishnu, the Sun, or Saguna Brahman. The mantra is suitable for all asramas. Om bhr-bhuvah-sva = Om, world, atmosphere and heaven (Vyahrtis) tat savitur vareya = THAT Light (sun) adore bhargo devasya dhmahi = Splendor divine meditate

dhiyo yo na prachodayt = Intelligence who our inspires Om, world, atmosphere and heaven, we meditate on the divine splendor as the adorable Light (Sun). May our intelligence be inspired. The following translation is adapted from the published discourses in Tamil by Mukkur Lakshmi Narasimhachariyar and other sources. Vedas say that Gayatri is Vishnu: Gayatriye Vishnu. The believers say that the daily reciter of Gayatri Mantra has Brahma Varcas in Bhrumadya, meaning Brahman's brilliance or power. Here Brahman is Vishnu. Thus the face is the reflector of one's Tejas. Bhrumadya = between the eyebrows. Not all can notice the Tejas; only those who already have that Tejas can see it. Vedas eulogize GAyatri: Ojasvathi Gayatri, Balasvathi Gayatri. GAyatri: Ojasvathi Gayatri, Balasvathi Gayatri = , (Gayatri with splendor, strength). This Slokam is invoked before meditation of Gayatri for full measure of benefits. Acharya recommends seeking a realized Guru in initiation of Gayatri mantra. BrahmOpadesam involves initiation during Upanayanam (Sacred thread and beginning of the study of Vedas) with Gayatri Mantra; the initiate takes the second birth with Gayatri as another Mother and the Guru-initiator, as the father and mother. Gayatri is the universal benefactor of followers of all religions, persuasions and beliefs. O Gayatri! You are endowed with strength; You have Tejas; You have brilliance; Where are my Tejas and strength, if you are not standing by my side? All is You, O Gayatri. Gayatri is the universal aggregate of all powers and brilliance, all gods, all Mantras, all Yantras; such is the greatness of Gayatri.

Sastras say that Gayatri should not be chanted loud (and yet I can't resist the temptation of listening to Gayatri sung by Anuradh Paudwal) Loud chanting earns poor grades and low gains; Sotto voce begets greater benefits; lipping Gayatri Mantra earns the highest reward. There are five stops in the course of reciting the Mantras; there are five faces of Gayatri Devi. 1st stop is after Om; 2nd stop after Bhur, Bhuva, Svaha; 3rd stop after tat savitur varenyam; 4th stop after bhargo devasya dhimahi; 5th stop after dhiyo yo nah prachodayat. Chanters get Brahma Varcas (Tejas, power, splendor, brilliance); that is why it is called Brahma Sutra. Gayatri's Tejas gives the Light to Solar, Lunar and Stellar Mandalas and that light has spread to all that shines. It is the Light in the eye, the heart and all the lights you see. Gayatri is so supreme that it is beyond the Gunas. It is like the sun casting its light on the high and the low, the pure and the impure, the sacred and the sacrilegious and yet it does not take on the character of the object it shines on. Here is simple way of breath control and recitation of Gayatri for the one in a hurry, wanting to reap its full benefits. A simple Sandhyavandanam Pranayama is performed as follows: block the right nostril by the right thumb, breathe in with the left nostril for the duration it takes to mentally say the Gayatri mantra. Block both nostrils, hold the breath and say the Gayatri; breathe out through the right nostril as you block the left nostril for the duration it takes to chant Gayatri. Gayatri Mantra: 1st round of Mantra, mental recitation should span the duration of inhalation; same applies for 2nd round with retention of breath and 3rd round with expiration. That means one should mentally recite the whole mantra once with inhalation, once with retention and once with exhalation. Three grand rounds of a total of nine recitations are considered suitable for a person in a hurry. Inhalation and mental chanting takes 10 seconds; retention and exhalation take 10 seconds each. If you face the sun and do it, it is even better.

Om -- Bhr, Bhuva, Svaha -- tat savitur vareyam-- bhargo devasya dhmahi--dhiyo yo na pracodayt-. You may stop to catch the breath after each round, if you cannot do all nine rounds continuously. Performing all nine rounds in one session does not usually pose any problem. Upasana, the Puja rituals. The cardinal features of Upasana (Puja) are as follows: 1) Bhutasuddhi: Cleansing Bhutas or gross elements of the subtle body. 2) Nyasa: By the power of Sound, Mantra and digital pressure, he invokes the spirit to descend on his body. 3) Pranayama: Breath Control. 4) Dhyana: meditation. 5) Chantless mental worship. 6) Japa or chanting of Mantra. Once body is cleansed and purified, the divine enters the body of the priest, who is deity himself. The priest has to destroy his papam (sin); next he purifies his subtle body by Pranayama (breath control). He goes on to purify the five elements in his body (bhutasuddhi). The priest activates the Kundalini fire in Muladhara Chakra and takes it through upper Chakras to Sahasrara Chakra for union with the spirit. This rise of Kundalini fire power destroys the gross and subtle body, as it were, of the priest. Now the spirit has descended on his body (of the priest) devoid of any worldly taints. The priest is now an ethereal body, devoid of Sthula and Suksma Sarira, and occupied by the spirit; thus, the priest has acquired Divya Sarira (divine body). The deity has taken residence in his spiritual heart. For the divine spirit to pervade his body and organs, he performs Nyasa.

(Nyasa follows Butasuddhi.) Nyasa is impressing of the body with fingers and mental appropriation or assignment of various parts of the body to the tutelary deities, according to Monier-Williams. Consider it as a painless form of acupuncture (Digipressure, digital pressure) that infuses divine power where the fingers apply pressure. Here you do not use Acus (needle as in ACU-PUNCTURE) but digits come in handy for application of touch and pressure. Digital application (Nyasa) is accompanied by chanting of Mantra and visualization of specific Devata or Bija (seed) Mantra. Sequential touching of the body parts in a geographic progression depends on the type of Nyasa. Once Nyasa is complete, the priest transfers the divinity from inside him to the idol, which is known as Avahana (invitation). By Mudras (gestures), he infuses life into the idol (Pranapratistha). Once the worship is over, the god is dismissed from the idol (Visarjana or Udvasa) and Samhara Mudra (expressive gesture of dissolution). Visarjana = discharging, dismissal. Udvasa = leaving empty, uninhabited. The idea of invitation and dismissal of divinity with regards to the idol sounds apparently ridiculous (on the surface) because god is everywhere and He or She does not need invitation or dismissal. Avahana and Visarjana are confirmation of his presence everywhere. Some additional points: After the deity is bathed, dressed, decorated and jeweled, the priest keeps all articles near him. He performs ritual acamana, or purification of the mouth before (or during) he utters the mantra. He makes a samkalpa (intention, resolution) for welfare of any of the entities of the world: that is the purpose of worship. (What a noble thought.) Consecration of water follows by invoking in it the seven holy rivers of India. This Arghya (water offered reverentially to gods or devotees) is used wherever water is necessary for rituals. In Acamana, water is sipped with chanting of three mantras from the hollow of the right palm formed by flexing the middle three fingers and extending the thumb and the fifth finger. The Mantras in eulogy of VishnuKrishna are AcyutAya namah, AnantAya namah and GovindAya namah. Pja: In Hindu religion, Puja ceremony is the most common. Pja = honor, worship, reverence shown to the deity both in public and private, homes and temples. At home Puja is conducted either by man or woman as the ceremony demands. In temples it is

offered on the devotee's behalf by the priest. There is no priestess. There are some internal variations. The general principles and parts of Puja are Avahana, Asana, Svagata, Padya, Arghya, Acamana, Madhu Parka (deity offered a mixture of honey, sugar and milk in a vessel), Snana, Jala, Bhooshan abharanasya (offering of clothes, jewels and ornaments), Gandha, Akshatas (grains of rice colored by saffron), Pushpa, Dhupa, Dipa, and Naivedya, and Sandana (offering of flower, Incense, Light, Food, and Sandal paste). In Puja, the Tanmatras and the gross elements are symbolized by Flower, Incense, Light, Food, and Sandal paste as depicted below.Tanmatras Gross Elements States of matter Symbols of Elements in worship Sound Ether Ethereal Pushpa = Flower Touch Air Gaseous DhUpa = Incense Form Fire Igneous DIpa = Light Taste Water Liquid Naivedya = food Odor Earth Solid Candana = Sandal

Rites of worship are prescribed by the Agamas: Nitya, mandatory; Naimittika, situational, periodic, or occasional; Kamya, desire-fulfilling. There are strict set of rules to follow and any infraction makes him a Brahma RAksasa (demon). Guru supervises and enforces these rules. Upacara (worship) has sixteen plus components. There are many internal variations. Central steps of puja include: 1) acamana, water sipping for purification; 2) Ganapati prarthana, prayers to Ganesha to remove obstacles; 3) sankalpa, declaration of intent; 4) ghanta, ringing bell, inviting devas and dismissing asuras (demons); 5) avahana, inviting the Deity ; 6) mantras and dhyana, meditating on the Deity; 7) svagata, welcoming; 8) namaskara, obeisance; 9) arghyam, water offerings; 10) pradakshina, circumambulation; 11) abhisheka, bathing the murti (the deity); 12) dhupa, incenseoffering; 13) dipa, offering lights; 14) naivedya, offering food; 15) archana, chanting holy names; 16) arati, final offering of lights; 17) prarthana, personal requests; 18) visarjana, dismissal of the deity--farewell. Also central are pranayama (breath control), guru vandana (adoration of the preceptor), nyasa (empowerment through touching) and mudra (mystic gestures). Puja offerings also include pushpa (flowers), arghya (water),

tambula (betel leaf) and chandana (sandalpaste). --atmartha puja: Karana Agama, v. 2, states: Atmartha cha parartha cha puja dvividhamuchyate, " Worship is two-fold: for the benefit of oneself and for the benefit of others." Atmartha puja is done for oneself and immediate family, usually at home in a private shrine. Parartha puja: "Puja for others." Parartha puja is public puja, performed by authorized or ordained priests in a public shrine or temple. Those who are interested in details can go to http://www.vishuji.com/sandhya_worship.htm There are variations in procedure and ritual observances. 1.VHANA,

Avahana: invocation of the deity; holding the thumbs against the root

of the ring fingers (Mudra) 2. sana, Asana: the manner of sitting forming part of the eightfold observances of ascetics. Offering a seat to the deity. 3. 4. Pdya, padya: Offering water to wash the feet. Arghya: Worthy of a hospitable reception; water given to a guest; objects of worship. Copper, silver and gold vessels are desirable to hold water. 5. camana: Rinsing the mouth with water: water for that purpose. ceremonial sipping of water. 6. 7. 8. 9. Snna, Snana: Religious lustration of idol with water. Vastra: Raiment; offering garment for the idol Bhs: Ornament and decoration of idol. Gandha: Fragrance or Sandalwood paste applied to the idol.

10. Puspa: Offering flowers to the idol. 11. dhpA, Dhupa: Incense or making smoke from aromatic gum or resin. 12. Dpa, Dipa: Lamp; waving lamp 13. Aksata: Offering unhusked barley-corns 14. Naivedya: Offering victuals to a deity. 15. Tmbla, Tambula: Betel leaves and nut. 16. Pradaksin, Pradaksina: Turning the right side towards the idol; circumambulation from left to right, as a mark of respect. Aratti: dissatisfaction, discontent. This ceremony is carried out by a married woman to ward off evil. A lighted wick sitting in an oil lamp placed on a circular metal plate is waved at eye level when a person of high station is welcomed into a house, convention or gathering. Aratti is performed also in temples for idols. Aratti idea was practiced in one form or another by the Romans and the French. The Romans used the statue of the god Fascinus on the triumphal car of the returning conqueror to ward off evil eyes. The French peasants were known to pull their children out of sight to avert evil when a stranger passed by. This is avoiding Drishti Dosham (sight fault = illness from evil eye, effect of the evil eye, pollution by sight.) Aratti is the preventive or counter measure for the evil eye. Aratti or Arti is performed for temple idols, children, elephants, horses and other domestic animals. This practice extended to automobiles. When you go to the Bridgewater Balaji Temple in Bridgewater New Jersey or Sri Ranganatha Temple in Pomona, NY, you will notice Indians bringing their new cars for Vahana Puja (Car Worship), to ward off evil eye, receive blessings, and insure divine protection of the car, occupants and others from accidents and loss of life and limb. The priest comes out to the car in the specially marked area of the parking lot to perform the ceremony. Another extension of Arati is to plant a pole with lime-painted pot at the top in the gardens and

cultivated fields to prevent and counteract evil eye. The evil eyes fall on the painted pot and not on the crops; the crops and produce are saved.

Akshatas: (unhusked barley corns) Akshta in Sanskrit means unbroken or unhusked. By tradition and convention husked rice colored with saffron and vermilion is used. There are two kinds of Akshatas: 1) colored rice consecrated by Mantra 2) simple colored grains. Mantra-infused grains are used in Pujas and special occasions. The latter in a cup is offered as a sign of politeness and auspiciousness; the invited guest takes a few grains and apply them on the forehead. Pavitram: Filter, strainer, an article that purifies, purification by Darbha grass. Ring of darbha grass worn on the fourth finger of the right hand on religious occasions. Darbha = Kusa/Kaus grass--sacred grass; Poa cynosuroides. The officiating priest wears the Pavitram on his finger before he starts the ceremony. Darbha Pavitram is used to establish mental, moral, and spiritual purity and proper ambience in the place of

worship, religious and other ceremonial functions and for meditation. Pavitrotsavam is performed to maintain the spiritual purity of the temple. Catholics celebrate the Festival of Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorating the presentation of Jesus and the purification of woman in the Temple according to the Law of Moses. The old custom is modified to 'Churching woman' which means to perform a church service of thanksgiving for a woman six weeks after childbirth. This dual function is known as Candlemas. a church festival, February 2, in honor of the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary: candles are blessed on this day. The presentation of Jesus (any baby) in the temple is a Jewish custom of thanksgiving to the God who dispatched an angel of Death to destroy the Egyptian first-borns and spared the Jewish first-borns.Ex 13:1-3 1The LORD said to Moses, 2"Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal."

The first-born son belongs to God, is offered to God and redeemed with five shekalim paid to the priest, the representative of God. Woman is considered impure for six weeks after the birth of the baby; Mary had Jesus Christ in the winter solstice and was ready for purification on February 2nd. In Hindu families, pollution lasts for forty days after the birth of a girl and thirty days in case of a boy. The Pagan Mother Goddess becomes the Virgin back again. (Mother Goddess has three forms: Virgin, Mother, and Crone. The Mother Goddess (Tripurasundari) is Bala, a girl or adolescent, Tripurasundari, a Mother, and Tripurabhairavi, a postmenarchal crone.) Immersion in Hinduism and Judaism is a purificatory ceremony. Jewish brides (not

all) visit Mikva (ritual bath) a few days before their wedding; she follows this practice monthly until her menopause. Ritual immersion takes place on the seventh day after the end of menstruation; sexual relations can resume after such an act. Mikva is a requirement before Sabbath. The tank (ritualarium) is a two feet square and six feet deep, filled with 191 gallons of natural water and is part of Synagogue or other buildings. The modern Mikva is a salon with hairdryers and hairdressers, cosmeticians, and manicurists on call. A woman must present herself to Mikva site, completely scrubbed and cleaned with bare clean skin and hair with no jewelry. All body parts including hair on the head must come into contact with purifying water. Three dips are required. While standing in the water after the first good dip, the woman recites the Immersion Blessing: Thou be praised, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has

sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the immersion." This is the Mantra of the Jews.Water as a great purifier. Among Christians, water baptism is equal to spirit baptism and rebirth. Baptism is a ceremonial immersion in water, or application of water, as an initiatory rite or sacrament of the Christian church. RHD Baptism is repentance, immersion in the name of Jesus Christ, forgiveness of sins and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Leviticus15.18: The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even. Numbers 19.13: Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.

While some in the West deride the maddening Hindus bath in the Ganges for washing away the sins, here is something to ponder: Acts 2.38: Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. All of the above indicate that all cultures believe in physical and spiritual purity before they approach God and water is the great purifier.

Yagnopavitam or Sacred thread ceremony and Gayatri Coming back to Hinduism, all ceremonies need initial purification; the sacred Thread (yagnopavitam or --Punnul in Tamil) ceremony (Yajnopavita Samskara, Pavitra Aropahanam--Upanayanam of the Brahmin boys is one example. The cord has three strands, which stand for Cit, Acit, and Isvara; three knots represent the trilateral relationship of these three Tattvas; each strand has nine filaments, which represent Prithvi (earth), aap (water), tejas (light), vayu (air), ether, prana (breath), atman (individual soul), antaratman (Inner Soul), Paramatman (Supreme Atman, God). The cord is made of cotton hand picked by a Brahmin of the same sect and spun into the sacred thread. Once the Brahmin boy is married, six to nine strands take the place of three strands. The three strands with mandatory knots indicate that he has gained control over his body, mind and speech. The ceremony is Upanayanam, a purificatory rite by which the young Brahmin boy (some other castes too) is purified, attains a second birth, and is allowed to study Vedas. It takes place 8 years after conception for a Brahmin, 11 years for a Ksatriya (warrior class) and 12 years for a Vaisya (trade and agriculture). The day following the ceremony witnesses the investiture of the cord. During the ceremony, the boy's mother wraps a loincloth around his waist and gives him the following advice.

My son, you should regard all woman up to the age of 24 as your mother; you should maintain celibacy, study sacred scriptures, and meditate on Gayatri Mantra which will be given to you today. May the Universal Mother Gayatri give you protection.The Guru invests him with the sacred thread and chants the Mantra.

This holy thread is of Supreme sacredness. Prajapatis (primary progenitors) have blessed this thread. Wearing it over your body and shoulder confers longevity. The Yajnopavitam (sacred thread) will endow you with strength and radiance.This ceremony of initiation and investiture gives him the privilege of second birth and thus makes him the twice-born (Dvija) at the age of eight, which in essence tells him that a transformation has come upon him rendering him eligible to study Vedas, the revelations. The three threads and or knots stand for many triunes or triads: Brahma, Vishnu and Siva; Sarasvati, Lakshmi, and Kali; the three attributes of nature and people, Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas; three letters of Om, A, U, M; past, present and future; three states of the body, gross, subtle and causal; three states of consciousness, wakefulness, dream sleep and deep sleep; three worlds, heaven, earth and netherworld; three Nadis, Ida, Pingala and Susumna and three feet of Gayatri. The three important Nadis in the body are Susumna, the most important and the other two, Pingala (right) and Ida (left) Nadis. Kundalini Devi along with Prana rises through Susumna Nadi to reach Sahasrara Chakra for union with Siva. Kundalini Power. Since ego is sacrificed, the thread derives its name from Yajna (Sacrifice) and is called Yajnopavita. The Brahmana boy wears white cotton thread; the Ksatriya, red hemp; Vaisya, yellow wool. White Cotton may satisfy all. (Brahmachari [student bachelor] wears one set of three strands; Grahastha, (householder) two sets of 3 strands; Vanaprastha (forest recluse), three sets of three strands; and Sannyasi (the renouncer), one or four sets.) The thread is worn on the left shoulder and goes diagonally to the right side of the chest under the right arm: this

pattern of wear is Upavita, which (the lower loop) should not descend below the navel line or ascend above the nipple line. The thread should be hung over the right ear while answering calls of nature, so that it is kept pure. Praciniviti: The sacred thread hangs over the right shoulder and under the left arm, when the Brahmana performs libations (Tarpanam) to forefathers (pitrs). Niviti: The sacred thread is worn on the neck like a chain or garland when he performs Tarpanas for human beings. Tarpana = libations of water to gods, rishis and manes; satiation of gods and deceased persons. The priest dons him with the thread and gives him the Gayatri Mantra. The affair is more elaborate than what I mentioned here. The young initiate goes to beg for food, while the fire of Yajna continues. He approaches woman and says, "Om bhavati bhikshaam dehi." (O good woman, please give me alms (food.) To the male donor he says, Om bhavaan bhiksaam dehi." Once the alms are given, the recipient says, "Om Svasti." Svasti = may it be well with thee. The primary knot is Brahmagranthi, the knot of Brahma. There are three Granthis (Junctional points, Knots, Junctions, hurdles): Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra Granthis. Granthis are equated to the levels of consciousness. Brahma Granthi of Muladhara (and Svadhistana and Manipura) Chakra is physical consciousness; Vishnu Granthi of Anahata Chakra is the Sphere of the Sun and therefore of Light, the beginning of Spiritual Consciousness; The Rudra Granthi of Ajna Chakra is the sphere of the Moon, the center of Spiritual Consciousness. The Brahmana boy with his initiation, study and practice of kundalini Yoga goes from human consciousness, strives towards spiritual consciousness and blossoms out in spiritual consciousness. The thread is exchanged for a new one once every four months and in case of death or birth in the family with attendant purificatory rites. The old thread is removed after the new one is in place.

Pavitram is the centerpiece of many ceremonies: Garbhadana, pregnancy ceremony; (Nma karma, naming ceremony 12 days after the birth; Anna prasana, weaning ceremony at 6 months of age (Judaism: A great feast was held when Isaac was weaned at two years of age; that is late weaning!); Chaula, head-shaving ceremony; Simanta, purificatory ceremony of parting the hair of woman at 6-8 weeks of pregnancy. Vaidika Gayatri:

Om bhr-bhuva-sva tatsavitur vareyam bhargo devasya dhmahi dhiyo yo na pracodaytOm , earth, atmosphere, and heaven, we meditate on the adorable glory of the radiant sun; may he inspire our intelligencetranslation by Dr. Radhakrishnan. Gayatri is three feet long with eight syllables in each. Om = AUM (Brahman, the One, Supreme God or Atman) Bhr-bhuva-sva = earth, atmosphere, and heaven tat = that (referring to Savitri, God) savitur = sun vareyam = adore Bhargo = radiance, splendor devasya = divine dhmahi = meditate

Dhiyo = intellect yo = who na = ours pracodayt = beg, entreat, ask for Om earth, atmosphere, and heaven, we meditate on the divine splendor of the radiant sun. We plead with Him to inspire our intelligence (author's translation). Sandya (junctional [transitional time zones] prayerssunrise, noon and sunset) is performed three times a day. A simple Sandhyavandanam Pranayama is performed as follows: block the right nostril by the right thumb, breathe in with the left nostril for the duration it takes to mentally say the Gayatri. Block both nostrils, hold the breath and say the Gayatri; breathe out through the right nostril as you block the left nostril for the duration it takes to chant Gayatri. The presiding deity of deities, Gayatri is Supreme Brahman (Paramatma), Devi, Vishnu, the Sun, or Saguna Brahman. It is suitable for all asramas. The seven Rishis, Visvamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Atri, Vasistha, and Kasyapa are the seers of the seven rhythms or vyhrtis. Vyahrtis: mystic utterances. In relation to Gayatri, Bhur, Bhuvah and Svah (earth, atmosphere, and heaven--the cosmic space between the sun and the polar star.) are three of the seven Vyahritis or Lokas (worlds) of the cosmos. (The Vyahritis are Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah, Mahar, Janar, Tapar and Satya.) The presiding lesser deities are Agni (Fire god), Vayu (Wind god), Savitr (sun god), Brhaspati (the celestial Guru), Varuna (the god of waters), Indra (the chief of gods), and Visva deva (the Cosmic Deity). The seven lines in the following invocation depict the seven worlds and planes of existence with their respective presiding deities, all of whom are under one Supreme Diety, the Cosmic Purusa. The deities are invoked to help us attain the higher spiritual worlds in their domain and realization.

Gayatri Mantra is adapted to eulogize and invoke many other deities: Ganesa, Vishnu, Siva, Rama, Krishna, Durga, Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Sakti, Sun, and Guru. Sandhyopaasanaa (sandhyopasana) = sandhya + upaasanaa = junctional time + worship. Junction = morning, noon and evening; worship at dawn, noon and dusk. Sandhyaavandana (sandhyavandana) = sandhya + vandana. Vandana = adoration. Gayatri Nyasa are of two types: Karanysa and Anganysa. Karanysa is touching by fingers and palms in various places and meditating on planets and celestials. Anganysa is perceiving God or Goddess in different parts of the body. It helps in meditating on different Chakras located in different parts of the body. Each part of the body presided by a deity protects that part of the body. After Anganyasa, the whole body is suffused with divine energy which radiates and purifies wherever he goes. In Karanyasa the grace and blessings flow out of the hands and fingers of the Guru. Karam = hand; Anga = body parts. The palm and the fingers are a book by themselves. Different disciplines see their own cartogram in the lines, whorls, loops, and arches. The five fingers represent ether, air, fire, water, and earth (Mahabhutas or great elements). Thumb is Brahma; Index finger, Ego; middle finger, Sattva Guna; the ring finger, Rajasic Guna; the fifth finger, Tamasic Guna. Venus occupies the base of the thumb; Jupiter, the base of index finger; Saturn, the base of the middle finger; Apollo, the base of the ring finger; and Mercury , the base of the fifth finger. The space between the base of the thumb (Thenar eminence) to the wrist is Venus Mount. The opposite hypothenar eminence is the Mount of the Moon. Between the two eminences is the cup of the palm, the region of Rahu; Ketu is between the Mount of Moon and the Mount of Venus. There are two regions of Mars: one between Mercury and Apollo and the other between Venus and Jupiter.

Some examples of Karanyasa, invocation of deities and religious finger gestures and positions done with right and left fingers at the same time and palms. These are based on Gayati Mantra. tat savitur vareyam = THAT Light (sun) adore bhargo devasya dhmahi = Splendor divine meditate dhiyo yo nah pracodayt = Intelligence who our inspires Here is the Gayatri Nyasa as done during Sandhyavandana. Invocation of deities in fingers and palms. Submitting to the power of Vishnu, bring the thumb over the index fingers forming circles. The thumbs overlaps the index fingers in this procedure forming two circles, as the chanter invokes Lord Vishnu in the index fingers (for protection).

vareyam. visnvtmane tarjanbhym namah.Tarjana = threatening finger (index finger). Varenyam. Salutations to the Supreme Soul Vishnu, whom I adore and invoke in the two index fingers. Overlapping the thumbs over the middle fingers forming a circle, the chanter invokes Rudra-Siva in the middle fingers. Following the same procedure, the Sandhyavandana chanter invokes Transcendental principle in his ring fingers and Lord of wisdom in the fifth fingers. The chanter brings the right palm over the left palm and later the back of the right palm over the back of the left palm and invokes the all-pervading God on both sides of his palms. (By invoking the deities in the fingers and palms, the chanter surrenders himself to the deities, who are the protectors of the fingers, palms and their functions. Now you know why the pianists, violinists, surgeons, typists, flutists, computer users and others need to do this invocatory gestures to protect their fingers and palms and the whole body. If they would do this, our soldiers may have less problems with loss of limb and life. Now we come to Anga Nyasa, invocation of deities in body parts for protection. Anga Nyasa (taction of body parts) is application of ritual taction over the heart, forehead, crown, shoulder with the right or appropriate hand. Touch the Anahata (heart) Center and chant,

Om. tat savitur. Brahmatmane hrdayaaya namah.Om that Savituh. Brahmah in my heart, salutations.

(I meditate on that Light of lights and creator Brahma in my heart. Salutations.) Presto Chango! your heart is now protected. In like manner, the chanter meditates, touches and asks for protection of the forehead from Lord Vishnu, the crown from Rudra, the shoulders from Tattvas, and the eyes from the Light of lights. He invokes God for the third eye of wisdom and touches between the two eyebrows. He places his opposed palms above the head, and expels evil vibrations by saying 'phat' and simultaneously clapping four times. phat = onomatopoeic mystical syllable; begone, crack, get lost. Now let us explore the inner mystical meaning of Gayatri. Sandyavandanam is chanted with Om preceding each word of Gayatri with Pranayama (breath control). Om = The universe of sound, the word of God. Om Bhh = God is eternal. Om Bhuva = God is the creator. Om Sva = God is independent. Om Maha = God is worthy of worship Om Jana = God has no beginning. Om Tapa = God is the Light of Wisdom. Om Satyam = God is Truth. Om Tat = That Eternal God. Savitur = Creative principle of Light manifesting through sun. Vareyam = Supreme God adored by all gods.

Bhargo = That Light is splendor and effulgence. Devasya = That Light is Divine. Dhmahi = We meditate (he is the object of meditation.) Dhiyo = Intellect Yo = who Na = our Pracodayt = inspire Om po = Om waters (He who rescues us from the karmic waters.) (Here is a scientific thought; Karmic waters is Causal Ocean from where life originated. Life on earth is not a dandy bed of roses. Rescue from life of bodily misery [from birth, old age and death; from colds to cancers--all ills of the body and not of our soul] is the goal of life on earth. Yogis know what heaven is: Life of Bliss in Spirit with pristine soul and without the putrid-prone body.) Jyoti = He who is the Light of lights. Raso = He who is the essence in everything. Amrtam = He who is the nectar of immortality. Brahma = That almighty God. Bhr Bhvah svar = He who is the creator of earth, atmosphere and heaven. Om = May he inspire us with intellect and enlightenment. Kriyas (Actions) As you chant do the accompanying actions appropriate to the Mantra.

Om = The universe of sound, the word of God. Say the mantra and touch the appropriate part of the palm and fingers. ipsilateral = same side). phalanx: finger bone separated by the crease(s). distal = the third phalanx away from the palm. proximal = the first phalanx close to the palm. Chant the mantras once with appropriate finger movements (kriya). Chant the mantras seven times without kriyas. See diagram Om Bhh: touch base of the ring finger with the ipsilateral thumb. Om Bhuva: Thumb to the proximal phalanx of the fifth finger. Om Sva: Thumb to the middle phalanx of the fifth finger. Om Maha: Thumb to the distal phalanx of the fifth finger. Om Jana: Thumb to the distal phalanx of the ring finger. Om Tapa: Thumb to the distal phalanx of the middle finger. Om Satyam: Thumb to distal phalanx of the index finger. Om Tat savitur vareyam: Thumb to the middle phalanx of the index finger. Bhargo Devasya Dhmahi: Thumb to the proximal phalanx of the index finger. Dhiyo Yo Na Pracodayt: Thumb to the proximal phalanx of the middle finger. Om po Jyoti: Apply tips of index, middle and ring fingers to the right eye. Raso'mrtam: The above three fingers to the left eye. Brahma Bhr Bhuva Svar Om: The above fingers to the third eye. Gayatri Mantra has three parts: praise, meditation and prayer.

After the depicted sequential religious finger tapping with accompanying mantra chanting, enter into a state of silence. Utter the Gayatri mantra without the Kriyas. This will open your third eye. Complete the procedure by saying Om Sntih three times. Tat Savitur Vareya = That Light Adorable (Praise) That thou Art. Adore THAT Light. Bhargo devasya dhmahi = Splendor divine meditate (Meditation). Meditate on the divine splendor. Dhiyo yonah pracodayt = Intellect who our inspire. (Prayer) Who inspires or illuminates our intelligence. The Mantra advances all the essential qualities of God irrespective of affiliation: 1) Om, 2) Bhuh = earth, 3) Bhuvah = atmosphere, 4) Svah = heaven, 5) THAT = God, 6) Savitur = Light, power, 7) Varenyam = adorability, 8) Bhargah = splendor, 9) Devasya = Divinity. Gayatri, the mother of Vedas (Veda Mta) has three parts, powers, qualities or expansions: Gayatri, Savitri, and Sarasvati. Gayatri is the mistress and controller of the

senses; Savitri, the mistress of Prana or life-breath; and Sarasvati, the presiding deity of speech. Gayatri exists in each one of us in all her forms. Chanting Mantras augments the qualities of the senses, life-breath and speech. Gayatri has five faces which are an euphemism for five qualities: 1)Om; 2) the

Mahavyahartis-Bhur, Buvah and Svah; 3)tat savitur varenyam--Adorable Light; 4) bhargo devasya dhimahi--Divine radiance; dhiyo yo nah pracodayat--Illuminator ofintelligence. All these qualities we realize when we praise, meditate on and offer prayer to Her. She is also the presiding deity of the five Pranas. This prna energy is as primal as Tapas, OM, light and water, which were present at creation or projection of Prakriti. Aksa is the primal stem substance and Prna is the primal stem force. All forces originate from prna and all forces subside in prna. Udana is the grandfather, Viyana is the father and Apana is the grandson of Udana. (up breath, equal breath, down breath.)BG04the seed om the maha vyahartis bhuh, bhuvah, svah sambandha (relationship) tat savitur varenyam abhidheya (meaning is surrender) prayojana (purpose) bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah pracodayat

Bhr Bhuvah Svah represent the Kundalini Chakras at three levels of existence of the human: at the lowest human of existence in the lower chakras, the middling existence in intermediate Anahata and Visuddha chakras and the highest spiritual existence in Ajna and Sahasrara Chakras. They represent body, mind and soul. Tat Savitur Varenyam: That adorable Light is present always and beyond Time. Bhargo devasya dhmahi: Its radiance and effulgence are so powerful that it can lift the darkness of the soul. Dhiyo yonah pracodayt: Let the Divine Light dispel the spiritual darkness and bring in intelligence, wisdom, discrimination, and awareness. Sun, Light, splendor, darkness are used as analogy. When the sun rises at dawn it removes darkness; likewise when meditation brings on the Inner Light, it dispels the darkness of the soul and augments intelligence. Gayatri mantra cures diseases of the body, mind and soul; removes all three miseries, exogenous, endogenous, and Theogenous (Adibautika, Adiatmika, and Adidaivika); fructifies all desires; bestows grace and boons; and confers intelligence,

wisdom and discrimination. The word Theo-genous is coined by me. Gayatri instills all good qualities and eradicates all bad ones. For the man on the go, Gayatri Mantra can be chanted any time: before awakening, breakfast, lunch, supper, and sleeping and while showering. It gives peace, tranquility, and happiness to body, mind and soul. You chant the Mantra in triplicate at a time. Chanting the most secular and yet uplifting Gayatri is suitable for all irrespective of their differences. Praise, meditation and prayer are applied to Light and not to any particular God. If you are a Hindu, that Light is the sun, Brahman, Gayatri Devi. If you are a Jew, Light is Adonai; Christian, the Lord; Muslim, Allah. The sun is the medium of worship, adoration and salutation. "we meditate on the

adorable glory of the radiant sun; may he inspire our intelligence. " Dawn and dusk areideal times for meditation. Constant practice of Gayatri mantra expunges sins and karmas and thus obtains moksa (liberation) for the aspirant. According to Manu, the author of the laws of Manu, and a progenitor, the sins committed in the day are destroyed in the evening by this Mantra and the nocturnal sins by morning meditation. A secluded part of the house, banks of the river, temple, ocean shores are some of the ideal places for meditation. Meditation done early in the morning when the stars are still visible is the best form; dawn and sunrise meditations are less efficacious and yet beneficial. It is done before meals on the empty stomach. During catastrophic and extraordinary times, chanting the Gayatri Mantra is sufficient. Mere chanting brings tranquility; chanting with knowing the meaning brings peace and tranquility; chanting with knowledge and faith brings the most benefit, the Grace of God. In the morning and evening the aspirant faces the sun, east and west and north in the noon. South is not a favorite direction since you will be facing the Lord Death in the south. This mantra is pleading with God to bless you with the Light of wisdom and intelligence so that you will lead a sattvic (virtuous) life to attain moksa eventually. But people do use this mantra for obtaining earthly goods and services. This glorifies God as Light (Let there be Light...). He is the Light and the source of all light in the universe.

There are three places the light is present: 1) God the Primary source of Light, 2) the stars, heavenly objects, the eye, all objects that shine or emit light and 3) the Spiritual Heart of the individual soul. One may memorize the mantra by repeating it loudly and clearly 36 times: This is Vaikhari Japa. Sabda or Sound. This is the least beneficial form of prayer. One may mutter the mantra Sotto voce 36 times; this is Upamsu Japa. This is a more beneficial form Chant the mantra mentally in Anahata Chakra, the place of Madhyama sound; this is Madhyama Japa. Sabda or Sound. This is more beneficial than the last form. The best form of chanting is LIPPING the Gayatri Mantra. You may see the mantra in colors in Manipura chakra; this is Pasyanti or visual sound. You may sense a high frequency sound which does not stir or produce vibrations; this is Para Nada, mostly perceived by Yogis. This mantra is passed on from Guru to pupil, and father to son. Now that it is available in broadcast, music, print and books, one may use it to regularly to obtain its benefits: intelligence, power, understanding, illumination and blessings.Bhr Earth Past Morning Tamas Gross Body Bhuvah Atmosphere present Noon Rajas Subtle Body Svah Heaven Future Evening Sattva Causal Body

The procedure

Take a bath, shower or wash your hands and feet. If you worship Gayatri as Mother Goddess, keep a picture of Her. If you worship Gayatri as the Light of God, meditate on sun god. If you worship Gayatri as Brahman (formless God), meditate on Ajna Chakra. Sit on a mat placed on a hard surface. Look at the lighted flame of a lamp or candle Visualize a flame in the Ajna center, the midpoint between the eyebrows. Sit facing in the proper direction; assume lotus position (padmasana). TMTM03. Have a rosary of 108 beads and a head bead made of Tulsi, Rudraksa or sandalwood. Let the place of meditation be clean and simple. If you have a sacrificial fire, you pour butter after chanting svaha and after you repeat,

"Om bhr-bhuvah-svah tatsavitur varenyam

bhargo devasya dhmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayt. Svaha." Svaha = hail, hail.This Mantra has universal application to fulfill all wants and needs with slight modifications depending upon the Ishtadevata (the deity of choice). If the family desires a child, they may chant the following divine formula (Mantra) to fulfill their desire. Just add the Bija Mantra yam at the beginning after Om.

"Om yam yam yam bhr-bhuvah-svah tatsavitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhmahi dhiyo yonah prachodayt."The couple must take a breath, hold the breath, mentally chant the mantra and breathe out. Repeat the Mantra again and again. yam is the Bija (root or seed) mantra of Varuna, the god of waters and the presiding deity of genitalia. Supplication to him and chanting the mantra will bring the desired results. Rosaries are used in Japa (muttering prayers). Counting the Japa by the tip of the thumb brings eightfold merit; by the Tulasi or Rudraksa beads infinite results. Tulasi is the favored bead for Vasinavites; ivory for Ganesa; Rudraksha for the Saivites and Mother Goddess. The thread used in the rosary has its own merit: cotton brings realization of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksa; white thread brings peace and tranquility; red attracts people; yellow fulfils selfish desires; black brings wealth.

Brahmin's usual choice is white; Ksatriya's, yellow; and Vaisya's, black. Red thread is for all classes, castes or varnas. The rosary has to have the look of a cowtail, tapering from the largest to the smallest bead; the head bead with a tassel should be the largest. Immersion by a Guru in Panchagavya, made of five liquids (milk, yogurt, butter, honey and water, purifies the beads. The Guru chants the sacred mantra, Sadyojta Mantra. Sadyojata = this instant + born or brought into existence; newly born. This mantra gives the aspirant an instantaneous new spiritual birth. (Sadyojata (Creator), Isana (Ruler, Revealer, Grace giver), Aghora (reabsorption or involution), Tatpurusha (Obscurator), and Vamadeva (preserver) are the five names of Siva.) Sadasiva is the Grace giver (grace = anugraha). Tatpurusha looks east; Sadyojata looks west; Aghora looks south; Vamadeva looks north; IsAna looks upwards. The first four revealed the Vedas and Ishana revealed Agamas. Sadyojata = Brahma, the creator; Isana = Sadasiva, the grace giver; Aghora = Rudra, the destroyer; Tatpurusha = Mahesvara, the obscurator; Vamadeva = Vishnu the preserver. The Guru worships the rosary and infuses energy into it by invocation of Devi, who is of the form of wisdom and a giver of joy, peace and blessings. He invokes the Mother Goddess and eulogizes her as the bringer of blessings of all gods and the revealer of Truth. One should assume the Padmasana (lotus position), hang the beads over the medial three fingers (middle, ring and the little fingers) and roll the beads one by one by the thumb making sure that the beads do not touch the forefinger, which represents the individual ego of the aspirant. The Sadhaka should sit straight with the head, neck and chest in one vertical line, concentrate his mind (and sight) on a picture, symbol, light or even a body part of the Lord, close the eyes, and gaze on the tip of the nose or the glabella (Bhr madya, midpoint between the eyebrows). You may direct your mind's

eye to any one of Anahata, Ajna or Sahasrara Chakras. You may meditate on Light or Sound. Once the chanting over the 108 beads are over, one should not crossover to the other side. Head bead (Meru bead) is an absolute stop; one may rotate the rosary in such a way that one may start counting in the reverse direction. Silent mental chanting can be combined with rolling of the beads and Kumbhaka (retention of breath). In this Kali Yuga, when meditation becomes difficult for any reason, one can engage in Kirtana, singing the glory of Ishta Devata. Om (AUM) When we pray to God, we use the sound-syllable OM. OM is the first sound, first thought, Brahman and God. OM consists of three letters: A U M, the beginning, the middle and the end. AUM includes / contains the past, the present and the future and also is beyond time itself. When Prajapathi was meditating on the three worlds, three vedas originated, earth, atmosphere and sky came into existence, and the syllable AUM came about. "Just like the leaves are held together by its stalk, so is the speech held together by AUM". - Chandyogya Upanishad. AUM is the basis of any thought, spoken or written word and more. AUM also represents the Hindu Holy Trinity, A: Brahma, U: Vishnu, and M: Siva. AUM knows neither fear nor death. Men, gods and asuras take refuge in AUM. Sing it sotto voce and have no fear of anything. In Sanskrit A and U combine to form O sound and M gives that resonance. OM is the syllable, the utterance of which helps a soul to penetrate Brahman proportionate to the degree of belief in it, detachment, abrogation of desires and contact with sense objects, and awareness. Its power is diluted by exegesis - critical evaluations. Tirumular says in Tantra Four, Verse 885, that A became the world, A and U became Sakti and Siva and AUM became the Light (Jnana = Wisdom). M became the Maya. OM is Bija Manta or Seed mantra and thus, the progenitor of all other mantras. All sounds (Phonemes) of all languages, alphabets, morphemes, words, and sentence take

their origin from OM. OM vibrates in all sounds, syllables and words. The transcendental sound of OM is audible only to Yogis. Utterance of OM proceeds from the navel, vibrates and ends in the nostrils, where the final intonation (Anusvaara / aftersound) takes place, which is represented by Chandrabindu ( a dot over a line or crescent). Bindu and Nada find their repose in Chandrabindu. Bija mantra, on the surface does not carry any outward meaning but it is mystic and the body of a devata or god. ( Another explanation: Aum (Om) is the mystic syllable intonated audibly, sotto voce, or mentally; It is the fusion of three sounds beginning with aw (as in paw) originating in Muladhara Chakra, vibrating as oo (as in coo) in the Anahata and Visuddha Chakras and resonating as mm (as in mm, that is good) in Ajna and Sahasrara Chakras. It is Primal Mula Mantra and thus a non-secular Mantra. m (variation of Aum) in Tamil means "Yes, expressing assent.") In Prasna Upanishad, there is a two-way conversation between Guru and disciples. Questions are asked and answered. The sound AUM is equated to the Higher and Lower Brahman, aka nameless or attributeless Brahman, and personal Brahman, Isvara. Meditation on each and all component(s) of AUM brings benefits to the meditator. Component A guarantees a quick rebirth soon after birth among men of high caliber, and greatness associated with austerity, abstinence and faith. Meditation on the two components, A and U, guarantees a sojourn on the moon in all its greatness with a return to earth. Meditation on all three components, AUM, guarantees oneness with the light of the sun, shedding of all sins, compared to the shedding of the skin by the snake, and an entry in to the world of Brahma greeted by saama chants. (The world of Brahman, equated to Hiranyagarbha, is a collection of individual souls, who at one time or another are sent back to the earth in embodied forms, after their terms in satya loka expire.) From the world of Brahma, he goes one step above, gets vision of Isvara, qualified Personal Brahman and thereby attains eternal liberation from the world of samsara. Meditation on the three components are better than meditating on individual components because AUM as one triad guarantees liberation and immortality in the

world of Isvara, and A,U,M individually guarantees only rebirth in this phenomenal world. In Maitri Upanishad Chapter six, the Brahman is depicted as three-footed, and threelettered according to the three letters of the syllable AUM. The three-footed Brahman is rooted above and the branches are the ether, wind, fire, water, earth etc. This upsidedown tree is Asvattha or fig tree. The import is that Brahman is rooted in heaven and the material world draws sustenance from Brahman. One has to cut asunder all attachments to the material world in order to attain Brahman. AUM depicts Brahman in terms of gender, light, the holy triad, mouth, knowledge, physical elements, time elements, physical sustenance and growth, thought, and breath. Gender Light Holy Triad Mouth Knowledge Physical Elements Time Elements Physical Sustenance and Growth Thought Breath Masculine, Feminine, and Neuter Fire, Wind, and Sun Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva Three sacrificial fires Three vedas, Rg, Yajus and Saaman Earth, ether and sky Past, Present and Future Food, Water and Moon Buddhi ( Intellect), mind, and Self-sense / Ego Praana, Apaana and Vyaana - Breath, Downward breath, Pervading Breath

There was a rivalry between the Devas and Asuras - the gods and the demons - born of Prajapati. The demons always fouled up anything done by the gods. The devas took refuge in and possession of OM and used it as breath via the nose. The demons vitiated the breath with evil and so the breath has become sweet and foul for the nose. The

Devas meditated on OM as the speech